Dispensing machine with protective atmosphere



May 25, 1954 F. H. HElss ETAL 3,134,509

DISPENSING MACHINE WITH PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE Original Filed Feb. 24, 1958 United States Patent "l ce 3,134,509 DSPENSING MACHINE WITH PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE Frederick H. Heiss, Rockford, Kenneth C. Rolin, Lake Villa, and Francis J. Baudhuin, Rockford, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Valspar Corporation, Rockford, ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application Feb. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 717,017, now Patent No. 3,066,830, dated Dec. 4, 1962. Divided and this application 9ct. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 148,408 3 Ciaims. (Cl. 222-135) This invention relates to machines for dispensing paints, paint colorants and the like, and particularly to a machine having apparatus for preserving the paint colorant prior to dispensing of the same.

In the mixing of coloring of paints, it is preferable to employ paints or paint colorants, hereinafter generally referred to as paint colorants, which are of the so-called drying-type so that the colorants do not adversely alect the characteristics of the base paints when the colorants are added to the base paint. Such drying-type colorants generally include a coloring pigment, a suitable dryingtype oil and a thinner to produce the desired iiow characteristics of the colorant. These drying-type colorants, however, tend to evaporate and harden when exposed to air. This not only changes the coloring value of the colorants, but may also produce Skinning and hardening of the colorant which would impair proper dispensing or" the same.

An important object of this invention is to provide a machine for dispensing drying-type colorants and the like which has an improved arrangement for preventing evaporation and hardening of the drying-type colorants prior to the dispensing of the same.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a dispensing machine of the type wherein the paint colorant is intermittently withdrawn and dispensed from a storage reservoir, and which machine has means for maintaining a substantially constant pressure on the paint colorant in the several reservoirs for accurate control of the quantity of colorant dispensed, and means for maintaining a protective atmosphere in the reservoirs to prevent evaporation and hardening of the paint colorants with a consequent change in the coloring value thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a paint colorant dispensing machine of the type described and in which the means for maintaining a protective atmosphere in the reservoirs can be easily cleaned and replenished.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FGURE l is a side view of the dispensing machine and with parts broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View through the dispensing machine, taken on the plane 2 2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through one of the covers for the paint colorant reservoirs.

The present application is a division of the copending application of Frederick H. Heiss, Kenneth C. Rolin, and

3,134,509 Patented May 26, 1 964 Francis I. Baudhuin for Dispensing Machine, Serial No. 717,017, led February 24, 1958, now Patent No. 3,066,830.

As disclosed more fully in the aforementioned application, the dispensing mechanism generally includes a carrier 9 mounted for rotation about its axisand having a plurality of annularly spaced receptacles or reservoirs 10 for receiving and storing a plurality of different paint colorant materials. A plurality of dispensing devices 11 are provided, one for each receptacle, and which dispensing devices are operable to dispense measured quantities of paint colors from the respective receptacle. In the embodiment illustrated, the dispensing devices 11 are arranged to be operated by a common operator 12 which isV mounted at one side of the carrier and positioned so as to operate in a selected one of the dispensing devices which is aligned therewith. A selectively adjustable mechanism 14 is provided for adjusting the stroke of the operator 12 to thereby selectively vary the quantity of paint colorant dispensed.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine includes a case having a rigid front wall 16, spaced side Walls 17 and a rear wall 18 to define an enclosure for the dispensing mechanism. A top panel 19 is removably mounted on the front, side and rear walls of the case. A support frame 21 is provided for rotatably supporting the carrier and includes a central hub for supporting an axially eX- tending spindle 22 on the carrier. A plurality of annularly spaced rollers 24 are mounted on the frame and engage the underside of the carrier to support the same. The paint receptacles 10 may be of any suitable construction which provides separate enclosed reservoirs for the paint colorants, and the receptacles are advantageously arranged in an annular bank. In the embodiment shown, the receptacles are formed as separate compartments in a canister. A top 30 is sealed to the canister by a seal ring 30 and the top has a plurality of iller openings 31 therein, one for each of the compartments in the canister, to'enaole replenishing of the material in the canister without requiring removal of the top 30. Removable covers 32 are provided for covering each of the openings 31 to thereby completely enclose the compartments in the canister. Agitatcrs 27 are advantageously provided in each of the receptacles and, as shown, are rotated by means of a stationary beltV 28 which engages pulleys 29 on the upper ends of the agitators.Y

The dispensing devices 1 1 may be of any construction suitable for dispensing liquid quantities of paint colorants from the respective receptacle and, as best shown in FIG. l, include a cylinder 35 which communicates at one end with a respective receptacle 10. A piston 37 is slidably disposed in eachV cylinder and has a rod 38 extending upwardly therefrom. The upper end of the rod terminates in a head 39. A valve (not shown) is provided on each piston 37, which valve is arranged to close when the piston is extended for dispensing material from the cylinder and to open when the piston is retracted to permit material from the respective receptacle to iiowl therepast into the cylinder below the piston. The cylinders have a dispensing nozzle 41 at their lower end, which nozzle has a discharge opening therein for discharging the material from the measuring cylinder.

The common operator 12 is more fully disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned copending application, and Y reference is made to that application for a more complete description'of 4the Construction and operation of the same. In general, the operator includes a jaw 51 which is disposed in the path of movement of the heads 39 on the piston rods 38,'and is shaped to permit the heads t0 pass therethrough as the carrier is rotated. The operator anismV includes a cam plate 56 disposed in the path of movement of the jaw 51, and which cam plate is rotatable by means of a knob 57 to provide an adjustablel stop for selectively changing the stroke of the jaw.

The case for the dispensing mechanismhas an access opening 61 in the front wall thereof below the lower end of the dispensing devices 11, and a shield lincluding opposed side walls 62, a top wall 63 and a rear wall 64, is disposed laround the opening 61 and extends into the case to ya position below the dispensing devices to define a dispensing station. An opening is provided in the top wall `63 and side walls 62 of the shieldV to permit dispensing of paint colorant from the dispensing devices 11 into a can P disposed at the dispensing station. The carrier Y9 is rotatable to enable positioning of any selected one of the dispensingdevices 11 [at the dispensing station, -and maybe rotated by hand or' by power operated mechanism such as the motor 68 which is drivingly connected tothe carrier through gearings 69.

Since the colorant is intermittently withdrawn from the receptacles, it is necessary to vent the receptacles to the atmosphere to prevent the formation of a vacuum therein. For-reasons set forth hereinaftenthe removable covers 32 tare-sealed to the top 3G of the respective receptacles by sealriiigs` 71 and vent openings 72 are provided in each of the covers to admit air into the respective reservoir or receptacle. Y f

The colorants to be dispensed from the machine are preferably in a readily owable liquid form and, in order that the colorants not-adversely affect the drying characteristics of -the base paint, when the colorants are added thereto, the colorants are preferably of the so called drying-type colorants.v Such colorants, in general include the coloring pigment, a suitable vdrying-type oil such las linseed, maleaic oil and a thinner such as mineral Vspiritsto Vproduce the :desired flow characteristics.

purpose, provision Vis made for maintaining an atmosphere above the color-ant in each reservoir to prevent drying of the oils in the colorantrand evaporation of the thinner used therein. This is conveniently eected by the provision of a receptacle at the undersideV of the cover and Ving 72 in the cover so that any air which enters theV coinpartments must pass through' the. pad and be Vtreated thereby. In addition, it is to be noted that'the open area Y of the grid 76 is large as compared to the vent opening, so that the mixture can readily evaporate from the pad into the respective compartment in the canister tomaintain a proper atmosphere therein. This particular arnangement also -facilitates cleaning and replenishing of the anti-oxidant mixture in the pads 77, since it is onlyV necessary to remove the covers'32 and immerse the entire cover and pad in -a vessel containing the anti-oxidant.

-From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood. As the paint colorant is intermittently withdr-awn from the respective reservoir by the dispensing device 111, air enters through the vent opening 72 into the reservoir to ref place the dispensed colorant. Since the entering air must pass through the pad`77 containing the anti-oxidant mixtherein to maintain the pressure in the reserovirs atsub-V ,minimizing loss` of the, anti-oxidant material to the surrounding atmosphere. Since .the protective atmosphere prevents evaporation and oxidation of the colorant vehicle, the coloring value of the fluid colorant does not change, even when stored for V.prolonged periods in the` Areservoirs land, moreover, Skinning or hardening of the color is prevented.

We claim: v

1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid paint colorants including aV coloring pigment, a drying-type oil and a thinner to provide a readily flowable liquid, said apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid paint reservoirs each having a iiller opening adjacent the upper end thereof, a cover removably attached to Veach reservoir to overlie the ller opening therein, means communicating with each Vof the reservoirs for intermittently withdrawing paint colorant therefrom and for dispensing measured quantities of colorants,said covers having avent opening stantially atmospheric pressure, a plurality of absorbent pads each impregnated witha mixture of anti-oxidant and a thinner, and means on each cover supporting one vof the pads in overlying relation to said vent openingV and in free communication with the reservoir for maintaining a protective atmosphere therein. I

'2. A machine for dispensing liquid paint colorants including a coloring pigment and a drying-type vehicle comprising,

quantities of the colorant, said compartments havingmeans for'vventing the same to Vatmosphere to maintain aQsubstantially uniform pressure therein, and Ameans individual to each compartment overlying said Vent means V for maintaining an anti-Skinning atmosphere in the comoverlying the vent opening 72 therein for receiving an f atmosphere inthe canister compartment :and thus pre-V vent evaporation of the thinner in the colorants. As best shown in'FlG. 3, the receptacleV is conveniently formed at the underside of the cover'by a ange 75 and a perforated grid 76 such as attached to the flange. As is apparent, the impregnated pad 77 overlies the vent openpartmentslto prevent drying of the colorant vehicle and to maintain a substantially uniform composition so that like measured quantities will have a uniform coloring value.

V3. A machine for dispensing liquid paint colorants of the type comprising a coloring pigment kand a4 vehicle ina carrier mounted for rotation `about an upright axis and defining a plurality of separate enclosed for intermittently withdrawing colorant therefrom and for dispensing measured quantities of colorant, said covers each having a vent opening therein to maintain a substantially uniform pressure in the respective compartment, a plurality of pads each impregnated with a mixture of an anti-oxidant and a thinner, and means mounting the pads on the covers for removal therewith and in overlying relation to the vent openings and in free communication with the respective receptacle for maintaining a protective atmosphere therein.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Baudhuin et al Apr. 17, 1962 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID PAINT COLORANTS INCLUDING A COLORING PIGMENT, A DRYING-TYPE OIL AND A THINNER TO PROVIDE A READILY FLOWABLE LIQUID, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LIQUID PAINT RESERVOIRS EACH HAVING A FILLER OPENING ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF, A COVER REMPVABLY ATTACHED TO EACH RESERVOIR TO OVERLIE THE FILLER OPENING THEREIN, MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OF THE RESERVOIRS FOR INTERMITTENLY WITHDRAWING PAINT COLORANT THEREFROM AND FOR DISPENSING MEASURED QUANTITIES OF COLORANTS, SAID COVERS HAVING A VENT OPENING THEREIN TO MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE IN THE RESEROVIRS AT SUBSTANTIALLY ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, A PLURALITY OF ABSORBENT PADS EACH IMPREGNATED WITH A MIXTURE OF ANTI-OXIDANT AND A THINNER, AND MEANS ON EACH COVER SUPPORTING ONE OF THE PADS IN OVERLYING RELATIN TO SAID VENT OPENING AND IN FREE COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESERVOIR FOR MAINTIANING A PRODUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE THEREIN. 